Remember When(s)

I’m in New Bern, North Carolina today as part of my mini book tour for ASSAULTED PRETZEL. I included this town in the line-up of stops because my parents live there now.

Even though they’ve only been in their house for about seven or eight years, there are still little throwbacks to my childhood sitting around the house. When I stumble across one of these forgotten gems, it always takes me by surprise.

This pear-shaped spoon rest on your left? It’s ceramic and I made it when I was about 9. It’s...